Freddy Cannon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Freddy Cannon
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Cannon in 1965
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. |
| Born | December 4, 1936 Revere, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock and roll |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1956–present |
| Labels | |
Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. (born December 4, 1936), known as Freddy Cannon, is an American rock and roll singer. He is famous for his big hits like "Tallahassee Lassie", "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans", and "Palisades Park".
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Freddy Cannon was born in Revere, Massachusetts, on December 4, 1936. When he was a child, his family moved to Lynn, Massachusetts. His dad was a truck driver, but he also played the trumpet and sang in local bands.
Freddy grew up listening to rhythm and blues music on the radio. He learned to play the guitar and loved artists like Big Joe Turner.
Becoming a Rock and Roll Star
Freddy started his music career in 1958. He sang and played rhythm guitar on a song called "Cha-Cha-Do," which became popular where he lived. He also played lead guitar for another group, the G-Clefs, whose song "Ka-Ding Dong" was a hit in 1956.
Inspired by rock and roll legends like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, Freddy formed his own band. They were called Freddy Karmon & the Hurricanes. He became known for his unique singing style.
The Story of "Tallahassee Lassie"
In 1958, Freddy wrote a new song with his mom called "Rock and Roll Baby." He made a demo (a sample recording) and showed it to music producers. They changed the song and called it "Tallahassee Lassie."
At first, many record companies didn't want the song. But then, Dick Clark, a famous TV host who owned part of Swan Records, heard it. He suggested adding more exciting sounds, like a strong bass drum beat, hand claps, and Freddy's signature "whoo!" shouts.
Swan Records released the song, and Freddy got his new stage name: Freddy Cannon. "Tallahassee Lassie" became a huge hit in 1959. It reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. and No. 17 in the UK. It sold over one million copies, earning a gold disc!
Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon
Freddy stayed with Swan Records for five years. People started calling him Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon because of the powerful, thumping sound of his songs. He appeared on Dick Clark's TV show, American Bandstand, a record 110 times! This helped him become famous across the country.
One music writer said that Freddy Cannon was a "rocker to the bone." He made "great noisy rock & roll records" with a "gigantic drum beat" that made everyone want to dance.
More Hit Songs
Freddy's next big hit was "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans" in 1960. It was a rock and roll version of an old song and became a gold record. It reached No. 3 in both the U.S. and the UK.
He continued to have hits, including "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy" and "Muskrat Ramble". In 1962, he released "Palisades Park", written by future TV host Chuck Barris. This song had fun rollercoaster sound effects and reached No. 3 on the Hot 100. It also sold over one million copies, earning another gold disc.
Freddy also appeared in movies like Just for Fun (1962) and Village of the Giants (1965). He even performed one of his songs in the TV show Never Too Young.
In 1964, he signed with Warner Bros. Records. He had two more top twenty hits: "Abigail Beecher" (1964) and "Action" (1965). "Action" came from Dick Clark's TV show Where the Action Is and earned Freddy his fourth gold disc.
Later Career
After 1967, Freddy Cannon released songs on different record labels. In the 1970s, he worked with Buddah Records. In 1981, he had another chart hit with "Let's Put the Fun Back in Rock'n'Roll," which he recorded with the Belmonts.
Freddy continued to perform at Dick Clark's American Bandstand reunion concerts and toured around the world. In 2002, he released a Christmas album called Have A Boom Boom Christmas!!
Personal Life
Freddy Cannon lives in Tarzana, California.
Major Hits
Here are some of Freddy Cannon's most famous songs:
- "Tallahassee Lassie" (1959)
- "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" (1959)
- "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy" (1960)
- "Muskrat Ramble" (1960)
- "Palisades Park" (1962)
- "Abigail Beecher" (1964)
- "Action" (1965)
- "The Dedication Song" (1966)
- "Let's Put The Fun Back In Rock N Roll" (1981)
Albums
- The Explosive Freddy Cannon (1960) - This album reached No. 1 in the UK!
- Freddy Cannon's Solid Gold Hits (1961)
- Palisades Park (1962)
- Action (1965)
- Freddy Cannon's Greatest Hits (1966)
- Have A Boom Boom Christmas!! (2002)
See also
In Spanish: Freddy Cannon para niños
- List of rock and roll performers
- List of Italian American entertainers
- List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand
- List of guests appearing on The Midnight Special
